11 March 2010

Liverpool 0-1 Lille

As if Liverpool were going to line up or play any other way. A poor man’s version of Liverpool’s best stifling European performances, and they finally paid for increasing Lille pressure six minutes from full time. That’s this season.

0-1 isn’t the worst result; it at least leaves Liverpool an opening going into the next leg. But they definitely didn't do themselves any favors and we’ll certainly need to see much more invention and a finishing touch in front of goal.

Despite Lille being on top for the majority of the match, with Liverpool happy to soak up pressure and look for the counter, the away side had the better chances in the first half. On any other day Liverpool could have scored from two breaks led by Babel and Torres in the 15th and 26th – the first blocked off by Rami's wonderful diving challenge on Torres’ throughball and the second stopped when Landreau stuck out a leg to deny the Dutchman – and when Landreau somehow kept out Torres’ point-blank header in the 42nd. But Lille had almost all the chances in the second, and that’s where the game was won.

The first 10 minutes were all Lille, marked by a Cabaye shot straight down Reina’s throat within 30 seconds and a tremendous turn past Insua and run by Hazard only to see his delicious center skitter across the six-yard box.

But the visitors were able to settle, mainly through Agger imperious in the air and Mascherano everywhere, leading to those Liverpool chances. Lille continued to see far more of the ball, but Liverpool did well to contain outlets like Hazard and Obraniak. It looked as if Lille would finish the half far stronger, but Liverpool should have been one-up against the run of play in the 42nd. Torres relieved the pressure by sprinting from his own half to win a free kick just outside the area. Gerrard’s low shot was pushed away and half-cleared out to Johnson, whose inch-perfect cross found Torres at the back post, only for Landreau to better his earlier save on Babel.

The second half was far nervier, 50-50 and played mostly in midfield as the two teams probed for openings with Liverpool setting the tempo. But after a Babel shot against the run of play which stung Landreau’s palms on the hour mark, Lille upped the tempo and the pressure.

Hazard, Cabaye, and Obraniak were able to push Lille forward, and chances arrived with 25 to play. Reina could only punch Frau’s dipping blast behind for a corner, and Agger nearly put that corner in his own net when Liverpool couldn’t fully clear. Five minutes later, a thunderbolt from Cabaye narrowly whizzed over the crossbar. And five minutes after that, more lovely play from Hazard led to a Dumont shot that Reina spilled but gratefully gathered before anyone could attempt a rebound.

Riera came on for a tiring Babel in the 74th (and was basically a waste of space, which would explain why he hasn’t featured much) as Benitez seemed hesitant to use subs with the game plan still working. But, in keeping with this season, Liverpool finally conceded from a truly unlucky goal in the 84th. Hazard won a soft free kick from the left channel, and his perfectly-weighted ball eluded everyone to tuck into the side-netting, with Reina rightfully expecting a header. Of course. But if anyone deserved a goal, it was Hazard, head and shoulders the most threatening on the pitch. He's gonna cost some top club a lot of money in the near future, but will make them very happy in the process.

It could have been an even unluckier two-nil when Aubemeyang hit the post three minutes later as Liverpool's confidence took the expected hit. An 89th minute scramble in the box where Gerrard and Torres’ close-range efforts were blocked and a 93rd minute Gerrard stabbed effort also closed down almost brought an unlikely away goal, but no dice. No surprise.

The sad thing is that Liverpool didn’t play badly. It was absolutely an improvement on Wigan, as the players at least appeared to recognize each other. Once again, we didn’t see enough in attack – a few moments of brilliance from Babel and Torres so close to breaking the ice, but Babel tired and Torres once again resorted to petulance with constant fouling unpunished, while Gerrard and Kuyt were again below par (even if, again, both were better than on Monday). Hazard had a big game, but Insua matched him for long stretches; any left back was going to be beaten a few times by that winger today.

It could easily have ended 0-0, or even 1-0 had Landreau not kept out Torres’ header. A one-goal deficit obviously isn’t welcome, and yet another away loss will heap pressure on the players and Benitez. The attack still looks too impotent, even if chances were always going to be few and far between in a first leg away match in Europe. That’s this team and this manager.

Liverpool will have score in a week’s time at Anfield in addition to preventing an away goal that would give Lille a bigger edge. It's doable, even with the state the side's in. Crucial to this team’s confidence and attacking fluency is Monday’s match against Portsmouth, where I expect (hope) Benitez will ring changes in the front six to finally find a formation that can finally find the net.

5 comments
:

Marc
said...

Yeah, when I saw the lineup with Lucas and Masch set back deep the day after Rafa fiercely claimed we needed to play to score, I felt a little afraid of this kind of scoreline. I wasn't surprised, I wasn't mad, just a little sad.

Babel was definitely tiring, but he looked sharp. Wish I could say the same for the skipper. Effort was there, but his brain and/or confidence is mush right now.

The current formation has been solved. You beat the crap out of Torres, slice us up with pace down the wings, and run straight at our guys in midfield. That's it. I sure hope we try something different vs Portsmouth. Even if it fails, just TRY something. Sit Gerrard to give him a rest (which will maybe wake him up), stick Babel up next to Torres, play a midfield of Maxi, Masch, Aqua, and (gasp) Pacheco. 4-4-2 it b/c that seems to suit our best players (or players playing best). Go all out.

I've been totally rocked by something you said recently, nate, and I hope you will expound on it. You said that Rafa was the only person who cared about Liverpool. And that kinda blew me away b/c you are totally right. The players are (at best) giving inconsistent effort. The owners are douchebags. But Rafa is giving his all. It may not be working, but he's giving his all.

When you said that, it was the first time in a while I felt sure I wish he would stay. However, games like today make that seem like a pipe dream.

Rafa’s time has come, he needs to be sacked immediately! The selling of Alonso has hurt us big time and Aquilani or Rodriguez are not up to premier league level.We need a new manager and fresh legs asap and Im not talking about El Zhar.

What happened to Gerrard? I've never thought I'd say this but Lucas played better than him in the last few games. And where did Babel get his confidence back? he's look like a decent footballer now. It's only the first leg, calm down people.

agree with Marc, Rafa needs to bench Gerrard. Let Aquilani takes his role against Portsmouth with Riera on the wing and Babel up front. He needs to be bolder, the hell with the seniors, if they don't perform, let the kids take their places. That'll put some sense into them.

If Rafa stays for the next season, I really hope he'll do some cleaning within the squad. A lot of changes of personality needs to be made.

Had to sell Alonso, and for that price you really can't argue with it. They miss his creativity, but the problem was not turning that profit into a viable attacking mid.

Nice to see Babel out there again because Liverpool has seemed slow this year. Other than El Zhar, does anyone on the bench have some speed? Also, why doesn't Liverpool have any African players? Is that a question of scouting the continent or just identifying talent in lower leagues?

Probably scouting. El Zhar plays for Morocco (but grew up in France), while Sissoko's Malian (Benitez knew him from Valencia), so it's not as if Liverpool/Benitez has avoided African players completely. I'm sure Rafa wouldn't like losing players for the Cup of Nations though. Maybe the dearth is yet another legacy of El Hadji Diouf.